Career and Education Opportunities for Equipment Engineering Technicians in San Jose, California

There are many career and education opportunities for equipment engineering technicians in the San Jose, California area. The national trend for equipment engineering technicians sees this job pool shrinking by about 2.2% over the next eight years. In general, equipment engineering technicians apply electrical theory and related knowledge to test and modify developmental or operational electrical machinery and electrical control equipment and circuitry in industrial or commercial plants and laboratories.

Income for equipment engineering technicians is about $27 per hour or $57,620 per year on average in California. Nationally, their income is about $25 hourly or $53,240 per year. Equipment engineering technicians earn less than people working in the category of Engineering Technologies generally in California and less than people in the Engineering Technologies category nationally. Equipment engineering technicians work in a variety of jobs, including: engineering lab technician, electronic engineering technician, and programmable logic controller programmer .

There is one school within twenty-five miles of San Jose where you can study to be an equipment engineering technician, among fifty-nine schools of higher education total in the San Jose area. Equipment engineering technicians usually hold some college courses, so you can expect to spend a short time studying to be an equipment engineering technician if you already have a high school diploma.

CAREER DESCRIPTION: Equipment Engineering Technician

In general, equipment engineering technicians apply electrical theory and related knowledge to test and modify developmental or operational electrical machinery and electrical control equipment and circuitry in industrial or commercial plants and laboratories. They also usually work under direction of engineering staff.

Equipment engineering technicians collaborate with electrical engineers and other personnel to pinpoint and solve developmental problems. Finally, equipment engineering technicians furnish technical assistance and resolution when electrical or engineering problems are encountered before and after construction.

Every day, equipment engineering technicians are expected to be able to articulate ideas and problems. They need to listen to and understand others in meetings. It is also important that they write clearly and communicate well.

It is important for equipment engineering technicians to assemble and operate test apparatus to evaluate effectiveness of developmental parts or systems under simulated operating conditions, and record results. They are often called upon to assemble electrical and electronic systems and prototypes in line with engineering data and knowledge of electrical principles, using hand tools and measuring instruments. They also analyze and interpret test data to deal with design-related problems. They are sometimes expected to set up and maintain electrical control systems and solid state equipment. Somewhat less frequently, equipment engineering technicians are also expected to conduct inspections for quality control and assurance programs, reporting findings and recommendations.

Equipment engineering technicians sometimes are asked to ready project cost and work-time estimates. They also have to be able to ready contracts and initiate, review and direct modifications to contract specifications and plans throughout the construction process and evaluate engineering proposals, shop drawings and layout comments for sound electrical engineering practice and conformance with established safety and layout criteria, and recommend approval or disapproval. And finally, they sometimes have to furnish technical assistance and resolution when electrical or engineering problems are encountered before and after construction.

Like many other jobs, equipment engineering technicians must be thorough and dependable and be reliable.

Similar jobs with educational opportunities in San Jose include:

Architectural Drafter. Prepare detailed drawings of architectural designs and plans for buildings and structures according to specifications provided by architect.

CAD/CAM Specialist. Prepare detailed working diagrams of machinery and mechanical devices, including dimensions, and other engineering information.

Electronics Engineering Technician. Lay out, build, and modify developmental and production electronic components, parts, and systems, such as computer equipment, missile control instrumentation, electron tubes, and machine tool numerical controls, applying principles and theories of electronics, electrical circuitry, engineering mathematics, electronic and electrical testing, and physics. Usually work under direction of engineering staff.

Industrial Engineering Technician. Apply engineering theory and principles to problems of industrial layout or manufacturing production, usually under the direction of engineering staff. May study and record time, motion, and speed involved in performance of production, maintenance, and other worker operations for such purposes as establishing standard production rates or improving efficiency.

Materials Engineer. Evaluate materials and develop machinery and processes to manufacture materials for use in products that must meet specialized design and performance specifications. Develop new uses for known materials. Includes those working with composite materials or specializing in one type of material, such as graphite, metal and metal alloys, ceramics and glass, plastics and polymers, and naturally occurring materials.

Mechanical Engineering Technician. Apply theory and principles of mechanical engineering to modify, develop, and test machinery and equipment under direction of engineering staff or physical scientists.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES: Equipment Engineering Technician Training

Heald College-San Jose - Milpitas, CA

Heald College-San Jose, 341 Great Mall Pky, Milpitas, CA 95035-8008. Heald College-San Jose is a small college located in Milpitas, California. It is a private for-profit school with primarily 2-year programs and has 990 students. Heald College-San Jose has an associate's degree program in Electrical, Electronic & Communications Engineering Technology/Technician which graduated twenty-three students in 2008.

Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing Professional - Technologist:
ASME GDTP Certification provides the means to recognize proficiency in the understanding and application of the geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) principles expressed in the ASME Y14.

Certified Lighting Efficiency Professional:
AEE's Certified Lighting Efficiency Professional (CLEP) program is designed to provide recognition for professionals who have distinguished themselves as leaders in the field of lighting efficiency.

RF Line Sweeping:
RF Line Sweeping, or FDR, Frequency Domain Reflectometry, certification by the Electronics Technicians Association, Internationa, has two assessments: The 16 category knowledge written multiple-choice examination, and the practical hands-on physical abilities and skills demonstration documented during a formal training course.

Electron Microscopy Technologist:
The Microscopy Society of America (MSA), the world's largest professional association of microscopists, provides the only certification of technologists in biological transmission electron microscopy available in the Americas.

Corrosion Technician:
This certification is geared towards personnel with little experience but who possess some basic knowledge of corrosion and corrosion control, who are capable of performing routine, but well-defined work under the close direction of Specialist or Senior Technologist personnel.

System Operator Certification:
The System Operator Certification Program awards certification credentials to those individuals who demonstrate that they have attained sufficient knowledge relating to NERC reliability standards and the basic principles of bulk power system operations by passing one of four specialty examinations.

LOCATION INFORMATION: San Jose, California

San Jose, California photo by Leslie

San Jose is situated in Santa Clara County, California. It has a population of over 948,279, which has grown by 6.0% over the last ten years. The cost of living index in San Jose, 163, is far greater than the national average. New single-family homes in San Jose are priced at $163,800 on average, which is far less than the state average. In 2008, two hundred fourteen new homes were built in San Jose, down from three hundred twenty-five the previous year.

The three big industries for women in San Jose are health care, educational services, and professional, scientific, and technical services. For men, it is computer and electronic products, construction, and professional, scientific, and technical services. The average travel time to work is about 28 minutes. More than 31.6% of San Jose residents have a bachelor's degree, which is higher than the state average. The percentage of residents with a graduate degree, 10.7%, is higher than the state average.

The unemployment rate in San Jose is 13.2%, which is greater than California's average of 12.3%.

The percentage of San Jose residents that are affiliated with a religious congregation, 43.2%, is less than both the national and state average. Almaden Hill United Methodist Church, Almaden Valley United Methodist Church and Kingdom Hall of Jehovahs Witnesses are some of the churches located in San Jose. The most prominent religious groups are the Catholic Church, the LDS (Mormon) Church and the Muslim Estimate.

San Jose is home to the Evergreen Ranch and the Rosegarden Branch San Jose Public Library as well as Almaden Winery Park and Albertson Park. Shopping malls in the area include Almaden Plaza Shopping Center, Almaden Via Valiente Plaza Shopping Center and Foxworthy Shopping Center. Visitors to San Jose can choose from Atrium Gardens, Best Western Airport Plaza and Best Western Inn Airport Plaza for temporary stays in the area.